Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage recruitment to the regular armed forces from (a) Wakefield and (b) West Yorkshire.

The Armed Forces recruit nationally and do not operate a specific policy of increasing recruitment from particular geographic areas. Armed Forces Career Offices are spread across the UK with approximately a dozen across Yorkshire, including in Leeds and Bradford, and are complemented by dedicated call centres and online recruiting operations, ensuring that all communities have the same recruitment opportunities. During the pandemic, the Armed Forces have conducted COVID-secure outreach programmes and virtual careers events, supported by web-based information services and social media campaigns.